Watchers Clan: 1

 “Is this really necessary?” Oeric grumbled. 

Griffith and Aule gave him odd looks, surprised he wasn’t more interested in this contest. 

“I thought you would be all for this,” Aule admitted. 

Oeric glared at his two friends, “Maybe if there was more space… It’s way too cramped.”

The three empyrians stood single file on small floating rocks just below the ceiling. If they looked in either direction beside them, they would find walls or shallow-cut pathways they couldn’t fit on. When no one said anything else Oeric elaborated. 

“I mean, I don’t know how long ago, in the Tranquil clan I had a panic attack about not seeing the sky…” Oeric reminded them harshly, “And now look where we are.”

Griffith flinched at his tone and Aule tempted to apologize, but Oeric growled, shutting them both down. 

“Let’s get this over with,” Oeric hissed. 

Without waiting for any sign to start or for his friends, Oeric took off into the darkness of the tunnels. He kept his wings close to his body and attempted to glide after large jumps. He tried to beat his wings with any opening, even if it was just for a flap or two before he had to bring them closer to his body again. It wasn’t long before he found his rhythm and was gaining speed. 

Griffith and Aule were a little stunned when their fiery friend pushed past them after his small outburst and disappeared ahead. Griffith didn’t waste more time and took off after the orange empyrian. He quickly figured out his method of jumping from rock to rock, completely ignoring his wings. He gained on his friend, enough to see some orange ahead of him, but not enough to overtake Oeric. 

Aule was still as he watched his two friends vanish into the darkness. However, he had keen eyes in the darkness. His night vision was strong so when he looked around the cave and tunnels he could see the haedians that followed them hiding in the shadows of the tunnels. He didn’t say anything that would give away what he knew to anyone. He could see the suspicion on their faces, but he knew they would be watching or this jumping contest would be pointless.  

Aule turned his attention to the tunnel ahead and began his slow journey. While he wasn’t panicked like Oeric might have been, he was large and didn’t like the tight space. He was very deliberate with his jumps and glides as he hopped from rock to wall to rock again. Eventually, like his friends, he figured out his method and gained speed. 

Oeric wasn’t paying to his friends, and he never looked behind him to see if they were following. However, as he paused before a large gap in the tunnels he took the time to listen. He could briefly hear the soft landing sounds that he knew were Griffith’s. So he waited. 

Griffith approached Oeric and noticed he wasn’t moving. 

“What’s wrong?” Griffith asked when he was within earshot. 

Oeric waited until Griffith was closer and said, “Nothing.”

Oeric was expecting Aule to follow shortly after, but after a few moments in silence, Oeric realized Aule wasn’t coming or, at least, wasn’t close enough. 

“Where’s Aule?” Oeric asked.

Griffith shrugged, “He didn’t follow when I started to come this way, but I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”

Oeric nodded briefly, Griffith was closer to Aule so he knew it was better to trust Griffith’s judgment than worry. Oeric turned to the gap and jumped. He spread his wings as far as they would go so he would glide the rest of the way over the gap. It was tight, Oeric had to reach and claw at the edge of the rock to pull himself up. He growled to himself before continuing through the tunnel. 

Griffith watched Oeric struggle, but when he saw Oeric had recovered he redirected his attention behind him. 

“Aule?” He called.

Aule heard his name echo through the tunnels and knew he was causing some worry. However, he didn’t speed up or reply. He kept his focus on his pace through the tunnel. He heard his name once more, as he crawled on the wall, but, again, he was focused on where to put his claws. When he was safely through the tight area and settled on a rock he took the time to reply.

“I’m on my way,” Aule called back. 

Griffith remained where he was and waited for his friend. His attention was divided between following Oeric to keep an eye on him in case he panicked, or waiting for Aule and making sure he made it to this section safely. Thankfully, Aule didn’t take much longer to appear.

“This is a contest,” Griffith reminded his friend, “gotta go faster.”

“Or they could be impressed with how I maneuver in the dark,” Aule shot back, “we don’t know what they are after.”

Griffith sighed and asked his friend to be careful before he took off after Oeric. Aule chuckled and continued with his method as he slowly followed Griffith. Some time later, Aule saw Oeric and Griffith ahead of him waiting. As he got closer to them he realized they were in a tough spot. It was a big opening so they could fly, but it was a matter of which direction to go in. 

Oeric, feeling frustrated, called out, “What way do we go?”

He wasn’t talking to Griffith or Aule, he was directing the question to the Haedians that he had heard following him. Aule and Griffith caught on and waited for the answer. 

[937]